I'm having a frustrating issue with my new Windows 11 PC where it signs me out to the lock screen after only a few minutes of inactivity. I've tried changing every possible setting, and under Settings > Accounts > Sign-in Options, it mentions an option for "If you've been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again?" with choices of Always, 1, 3, 5, or 15 minutes. However, I can't find the 'Never' option, and there's a message saying that "security policies on this PC are preventing some options from being shown."
I've spent hours looking for fixes online, adjusting power and account settings, and even trying some Registry edits, but nothing seems to work. I've set it to 15 minutes, which is the longest option, but it still locks me out after just 2-3 minutes. It's pretty maddening, especially for a high-spec PC. I'm wondering if I should just do a Windows Reset, but I'd like some advice before taking that drastic step. Any help would be appreciated!
1 Answer
It sounds like your PC might have restrictions in place—possibly due to being set up for a workplace or school. You should check if it’s configured with any kind of group policy that could be enforcing these security settings. Also, if there’s any other account besides yours, make sure that you're logged into an account with admin privileges. Letting us know about the PC's origins—a second-hand purchase, maybe—could provide more clues!
Nope, it’s a brand new personal PC, just one account (mine, and I’m the Administrator). I'm also using my own password and not Windows Hello or anything like that. Thanks for the input!